Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

Who is recognized as the father of genetics?

1. Charles Darwin

2. Gregor Mendel

3. James Watson

4. Francis Galton

The correct answer is: Gregor Mendel

The recognition of Gregor Mendel as the father of genetics stems from his pioneering work on inheritance patterns in pea plants in the mid-19th century. Mendel's experiments laid the groundwork for the principles of heredity, particularly the concepts of dominant and recessive traits. His meticulous approach to experimentation and his mathematical analysis of data established the foundation for what would later become the field of genetics. Mendel's findings, published in 1866 but largely ignored until the early 20th century, were fundamental to our understanding of how traits are passed from one generation to the next. This included concepts like the segregation of alleles and independent assortment, which are now considered central to modern genetics. His work is crucial because it forms the basis for the inheritance of traits not only in plants but also across all living organisms, thereby cementing his legacy as a foundational figure in the study of genetics. In contrast, the other individuals listed made significant contributions in their respective fields but did not establish principles of genetics. Charles Darwin is known for his theory of evolution, which includes natural selection. James Watson and Francis Crick are famous for co-discovering the structure of DNA, but their work came decades after Mendel's foundational contributions. Francis Gal